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"Schools reflect society, and there is no turning back from the digital age."
"Schools reflect society, and there is no turning back from the digital age."
Johnson 2011, p. IX
Do we need that digital thing in our classrooms?
Of course we do!
As everything is changing with time, so do our classrooms. Digital Tools are part of everyday life and as Johnson says, the common chalk blackboard is now an interactive one and the old pens and pencils give their way to computers.
Technology can be seen as a new and incredible thing, which can frighten us in many ways. But it has to be seen as something mind-blowing, which gives us new and various ways of teaching for our EFL classroom. It is nothing strange and magic, we need to be afraid of. We should be that amazing "21st-century-teacher", teaching with digital tools and new media.
But what is a "21st-century-teacher"?
A Teacher in the 21st-Century has to Handle many Different Roles!
A Teacher in the 21st-Century has to Handle many Different Roles!
One of these roles they have to represent, is the advocator for their profession, where they have to take a stand for themselves and their profession. Also, they have to pay close attention to important issues, for example in education and changes in the field, as well as in other parts of school life, inform their stundets and their parents about it, and most importantly - they have to ensure that none of their stundents are left behind. Also, the 21st-century teachers have to be lifelong learners, where they need the will to learn more and more. That's how they can stay on top of what is new in teaching and education, and also they have to know how to change previous materials to keep them up-to-date with what is current. Another important function is to move along with the ever changing technology, so that the teachers can help their students' learning better and faster. Also, they can use time more effectively in their classroom. But they have to find the best balance of technology and educational tools - an effective teacher should know when technology in the classroom can truly help transform their students education
and should know the technology the students will need for their future careers and the increased globalized environment. 21st-century-teachers should use the chance of collaboration to work in a team and collaborate with colleagues and other teachers in school - so they can share ideas and knowledge, as well as expertise and experience. They therefore need effective communication skills and the ability to self-reflect on their own work and teaching. Learning from others has to be a goal in 21st-century-teaching. Further, teachers have to be aware of adaption, as they have to adapt whatever comes their way, especially because the teaching tools are always changing. They have to take a look at their own teaching practice and adapt it to the needs of their students - especially when lessons fail, in case of new technology or a new curriculum. All these different roles are always interchangeable, teachers can never be static. They have to switch between the roles and try to represent and perform every role.
Key Characteristics
Key Characteristics
All in all, teachers have to fullfill some key characteristics in order to be a 21st-century-teacher. They have to look forward to the future, be aware of ever changing trends, in education and technology, and also be aware of the career opportunities of their students. The most important key is using teaching strategies which focus on preparing today's students for the future and their upcoming life, not for our current world. They have to go a little bit further.
21st-century-teachers should be teaching as it has been done for years and years before, but with way better tools because the advantage of these powerful tools needs to be applied . And so the teacher can move from the role of an information dispenser into someone who guides and prepares the children for their future. We need more and more "learner-driven"-classrooms, where the teachers act as mentors for their students.
Janelle Cox: Teaching Strategies: What a 21st century teacher looks like. Retrieved January 14, 2019 from: http://www.teachhub.com/teaching-strategies-what-21st-century-educator-looks#comment-3589775717
Nola A.: 7 Roles of a Teacher in the 21st Century. Retrieved January 14, 2019 from: https://etoninstitute.com/blog/the-7-roles-of-a-teacher-in-the-21st-century
Nola A.: 7 Roles of a Teacher in the 21st Century. Retrieved January 14, 2019 from: https://etoninstitute.com/blog/the-7-roles-of-a-teacher-in-the-21st-century
Multimedia Learning Strategies
Multimedia Learning Strategies
But not only teachers should be aware of using digital tools and multimedia technology - our students have to learn how to use them, too. For example Haß says, that they have to acquire various strategies for an effective use of digital tools and media, while learning and studying. Digital tools and new media can be a big help for training vocabulary and strengthening the word knowledge, but they also make sense at working with grammar, pronounciation and intonation.
Pronounciation and intonation can also be connected with working on listening comprehensions, as well as reading comprehensions can be supported with digital tools and mulitmedia technology. Another point is that students should be able to use english-speaking media to gather information, work with the information, prepare, outline and present it - all of it can be done by assisting digital tools and multimedia technology (Haß 2016, p. 215).
How the Digital Revolution is Changing Learning
How the Digital Revolution is Changing Learning
TED Talk by Steve Fiehl - TEDxAix
Digital Tools offer us New Possibilities and Options in our Classrooms
Digital Tools offer us New Possibilities and Options in our Classrooms
- connection between our students and their learning needs
- unlimited methods for teaching, asigning and grading students work
- connect to students everyday life
- give students an introduction to future worklife and sociallife needs, concerning the digital age
- teach students how to use digital tools efficently and how to work with them
- prepare students for the digital age, with all the possible negative and positive outcomes
- creative problem solving
Benefits of the Digital Classroom
Benefits of the Digital Classroom
Google for Education Training Centre
Some useful Digital Tools for your Classroom
Some useful Digital Tools for your Classroom
Collect and Structure Ideas
- Collect ideas and content on a virtual pinboard
- Everybody with the respective weblink can collaborate and work on the pinboard
- No registration needed, free tool
- Computer or Tablet needed, if necessary beamer or smartboard
- Very useful for brainstorming and associating, lesson introductions
Present
- Online-Presentation-Tool
- Presentations can be shared
- Registration needed, free version but also premium pay version as well as a educational license for teachers available
- Computer or tablet needed, if necassary beamer or whiteboard
- Very useful for professional presentations for teachers and students,
Generate and Edit
- Helps with generating and editing index cards and flashcards
- No registration needed, free tool
- Computer needed
- Index cards are a tool for systematic learning, especially with vocabulary
- Flashcards can also be used for introducing new words
Create Interactive Exercises
- Platform for different interactive exercises and learning games in different subjects
- Own games and exercises can be created and forums can be set up for individual classes in order to assign tasks to them
- No registration needed, free tool
- Computer, tablet or smartphone needed
- different scenarios for use, e.g. in phases of practice or for securing knowledge
Find some more Tools, Strategies and Information here...
Find some more Tools, Strategies and Information here...
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